A helicopter crash near Port Harcourt has claimed the lives of six oil workers and two crew members. The helicopter, owned by Eastwind Aviation, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near the Mimbo platform and Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel while transporting personnel to the OML 123 oil field. So far, three bodies have been recovered, and search and rescue efforts are ongoing, involving the Nigerian Search and Rescue Unit, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and other agencies.

The Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development confirmed the incident and activated emergency response teams. Despite the absence of an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal, efforts are being made to locate the crash site using manual methods and low-flying aircraft. Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo expressed condolences to the victims’ families, assuring continued efforts to locate potential survivors.